I really do feel sad for the people who lost their relative (I'm sure the organising committee feels the same.) I'm sure that they believe their case is special, but it remained their decision to withdraw from the event or not.The organisers had nothing to do with it. Life goes on after a family loss and the ECO organisers are just trying to make a success - not a profit.

Perhaps some of the critics should offer their services to the committee organising the next ECO - free of charge, of course, for the next year. They can show us all how to organise an event for 600 people including all meals, entertainment, routes and include refunds of prople who withdraw after the final closing date. If it runs into a loss, they can sommer fork out of their own pockets too.

2SD, how about you organising a similar event for your Yammie buddies so that I can piss on your arrangements for an event that I wont be attending anyway...? Maybe I'll sommer borrow a Yammie myself just to enter and come spoil your day - every day of the event by bitching about cheap plastic coffee, the lack of Earl Grey tea... whatever.

Don't knock anyone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.I've been involved in organising such events in the past.I've walked a few yards in their shoes myself.

Logged

AIRHEADS ARE AN ADMIRABLE ADDICTION !Life is far too short to be taken too seriously. I am far too short to be taken too seriously.

I just had a 'nice' discussion with David. I got told that no monies will be paid back. No new people will take our places as they have been overbooked and our food etc has been paid for. I accept that, I also accept that we have cancelled after 18 Sept. I also accept that it left a kak taste in my mouth and that I will not support the ECO ever again. i also accept that I am a complete fucknut for choosing between the ECO and the National Bash. From now on I will not miss the Nat Bash again. Rant over.

The reality is that we also dont refund people for canceling. You can however arrange with someone to pay to go on your behalf - no skin off our back. The reality is that in a few cases people cancel for valid reasons, but in most cases not. This fucks with budgets and organising.

I really do feel sad for the people who lost their relative (I'm sure the organising committee feels the same.) I'm sure that they believe their case is special, but it remained their decision to withdraw from the event or not.The organisers had nothing to do with it. Life goes on after a family loss and the ECO organisers are just trying to make a success - not a profit.

Perhaps some of the critics should offer their services to the committee organising the next ECO - free of charge, of course, for the next year. They can show us all how to organise an event for 600 people including all meals, entertainment, routes and include refunds of prople who withdraw after the final closing date. If it runs into a loss, they can sommer fork out of their own pockets too.

2SD, how about you organising a similar event for your Yammie buddies so that I can piss on your arrangements for an event that I wont be attending anyway...? Maybe I'll sommer borrow a Yammie myself just to enter and come spoil your day - every day of the event by bitching about cheap plastic coffee, the lack of Earl Grey tea... whatever.

Don't knock anyone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.I've been involved in organising such events in the past.I've walked a few yards in their shoes myself.

It just so happens that my Yammie club is leaving very early on Friday morning up the Westcoast to Hondeklipbaai, Saturday to Pella including Road to Hell, and Sunday Pella back to Stellenbosch. On this ride, Fudmucker, I am sure you will spoil our ride, even if you borrow a Yamaha. If Minzi cancelled, and BMW club was unable to fill his place, then by no means can anyone expect the club to refund him anything, but they were overbooked??

Sad that the original's poster had sickness, never nice and our thoughts are with him.

We had similar problems when organizing our Barberton Paragliding Open. There is a cut off date and a point where after refunds are not allowed. However, we did refund a lady who provided a medical certificate after she broke her hip - our committee made a ruling and she was refunded, at our cost. Rules are rules and if you sign and accept them, then you don't have much to complain about.

That being said, the rules should be fair and also evenly applied. It can also be adjusted so as to allow certain exceptions - life is life and problems do come up. If I were on the ECO committee I would not have had a problem refunding the guy, minus a admin fee and only if his place was taken and paid for by a replacement. But, I am not on the ECO committee and I did not sign the T&C's beforehand.

To be fair: why was the problem or issue with the non-refunding after 18 September only raised afterwards? Why not before signing the T&C's? Why do we sign stuff we don't agree with?

In short the rules can say no refund, but surely humanity could be considered as well.Surely in the past there was people in any event that did not want to partake, and used sickness or death as a way out, being part of the lies conmen use in this world of ours, but if they (orginisers) had any sense of humanity they could have asked for prove ie letter from hospital, and refund but keep a admin fee.Surely if the event is as great as the past participates say, then there must be a waiting list for more entries, and they would not have had to make any changes except names of new participants.

Yes a lot of work and effort goes into arranging these events, but a plan can always be made.

Maybe if some of the orginisers were on WD, then they would realise that most people here are honest, and will not back out of a deal unnessesary, or without properly excusing themselves.

You can buy a car for 500k and back out of the deal without it costing you money. Why not something like this.And yes I have been "bitten" before with the same kind of issue (not motorcycle related) and it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, and influance your feelings of trust towards others, which is why I try and stick to the Dawgs for advice, and support dogs where I can as I "trust" the people on the forum.

But that is just my 2c, and maybe I am missing something, but I back Minzi on this one.

I really do feel sad for the people who lost their relative (I'm sure the organising committee feels the same.) I'm sure that they believe their case is special, but it remained their decision to withdraw from the event or not.The organisers had nothing to do with it. Life goes on after a family loss and the ECO organisers are just trying to make a success - not a profit.

Perhaps some of the critics should offer their services to the committee organising the next ECO - free of charge, of course, for the next year. They can show us all how to organise an event for 600 people including all meals, entertainment, routes and include refunds of prople who withdraw after the final closing date. If it runs into a loss, they can sommer fork out of their own pockets too.

2SD, how about you organising a similar event for your Yammie buddies so that I can piss on your arrangements for an event that I wont be attending anyway...? Maybe I'll sommer borrow a Yammie myself just to enter and come spoil your day - every day of the event by bitching about cheap plastic coffee, the lack of Earl Grey tea... whatever.

Don't knock anyone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.I've been involved in organising such events in the past.I've walked a few yards in their shoes myself.

It just so happens that my Yammie club is leaving very early on Friday morning up the Westcoast to Hondeklipbaai, Saturday to Pella including Road to Hell, and Sunday Pella back to Stellenbosch. On this ride, Fudmucker, I am sure you will spoil our ride, even if you borrow a Yamaha. If Minzi cancelled, and BMW club was unable to fill his place, then by no means can anyone expect the club to refund him anything, but they were overbooked??

I also don't see the logic. It is a popular event . Last year there were more people who wanted to go then could go. Minzi cancelled and they filled their places, so got their money. Now they have double money. And his dad was in a coma for all that time and sadly died just over that period.

They spent all that money on planting trees to make a good impression but then, but don't consider someone dying as a worthwhile cause to be humane . BMW marketing fail.

I feel strongly about this aspect. Criteria needs to be there otherwise it will cause havoc if everyone can just cancel as and when required. However, I do believe in the event of death, special dispensation can be applied!